Glow fish tape system

ABSTRACT

A fish tape system includes a fish tape and a case having a storage compartment that stores the fish tape for deployment from the case. The fish tape has a length extending from a first end to a second end. The length includes a luminescent material that emits light after being energized by exposure to a light source. At least a portion of the case is transparent to allow the luminescent material 22 to be energized by light passing through the transparent portion and into the storage compartment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates fish tapes that are deployed from a casethat stores the fish tape when the fish tape is not in use. Most currentfish tapes of this type utilize a case that deploys the fish tape froman annular slot, typically in an outer perimeter of the case, with atleast a portion of the fish tape being retained in the case during use.Fish tapes are typically made of nylon, fiberglass, nylon jacketedfiberglass, or a suitable metal, such as stainless steel or temperedspring steel or multi-stranded steel wire, with the fish tape havingsufficient stiffness to be pushed through a conduit or other enclosedspace while being sufficiently flexible to flex around bends or cornersin the conduit or other enclosed space. Fish tapes are provided in avariety of sizes and lengths, with the commercially available lengthstypically being provided in the range of 20 feet to 240 feet.

Such fish tapes are used to pull electrical wires and fiber optic cablesthrough conduit or into enclosed wall space and there are commerciallyavailable light emitting tips that can be connected to the end of thefish tape to improve the ability of a user to see the fish tape as it ismoving near an opening through which a user wishes to pull electricalwire or fiber optic cable. While such fish tapes, cases and tips workwell for their intended purpose, there is always room for improvement.For example, the light emitting tips are not as effective if the tip hasalready moved past the opening through which a user wants to pull theelectrical wire or fiber optic cable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In accordance with one feature of this disclosure, a fish tape systemincludes a fish tape and a donut shaped case. The fish tape has a lengthextending from a first end to a second end, and the length of the fishtape includes a luminescent material that emits light after beingenergized by exposure to a light source. The donut shaped case has apair of sidewalls extending between a radially innermost wall and aradially outermost wall. The sidewalls are spaced from each other todefine a fish tape storage compartment that stores the length of fishtape for deployment via the annular opening in the case. The casefurther includes an annular opening extending around a circumference ofone of the inner and outer walls. At least a portion of the case istransparent to allow the luminescent material to be energized by lightpassing through the portion.

As one feature, the outermost wall has the annular opening extendingaround a circumference of the outer wall, and at least one of thesidewalls of the case is transparent to allow the luminescent materialto be energized by light passing through the at least one of thesidewalls.

In one feature, both of the sidewalls of the case are transparent toallow the luminescent material to be energized by light passing throughthe sidewalls.

According to one feature, at least one of the innermost and outermostwalls is transparent to allow the luminescent material to be energizedby light passing through the sidewalls.

As one feature, one of the sidewalls and portions of the innermost andoutermost walls are defined by a first component of the case, and theother of the sidewalls and other portions of the innermost and outermostwalls are defined by a second component of the case. The first andsecond components are assembled together to form the storagecompartment. In a further feature, at least one of the first and secondcomponents includes a transparent material. In yet a further feature,both of the first and second components includes a transparent material.

In one feature, the fish tape system further includes a handle engagedwith the case for sliding movement along a circumference of one of theinner and outer walls, the handle engageable with the fish tape todeploy the fish tape from the storage compartment and to reload the fishtape into the compartment.

According to one feature, the fish tape system further includes a handleengaged with the case for sliding movement along a circumference of theouter wall. The handle is engageable with the fish tape to deploy thefish tape from the storage compartment and to reload the fish tape intothe compartment.

As one feature, the fish tape further includes a threaded opening in atleast one of the first and second ends.

In one feature, at least a portion of at least one of the sidewalls ofthe case is transparent to allow the luminescent material to beenergized by light passing through the at least one of the sidewalls.

According to one feature, at least portions of both of the sidewalls ofthe case are transparent to allow the luminescent material to beenergized by light passing through the sidewalls.

As one feature, at least portions of all the walls of the case aretransparent.

In accordance with one feature, a fish tape system includes a fish tapeand a case. The fish tape has a length extending from a first end to asecond end, and the length of the fish tape includes a luminescentmaterial that emits light after being energized by exposure to a lightsource. The case has a fish tape storage compartment that stores thelength of fish tape for deployment and reloading via an opening in thecase. At least a portion of the case is transparent to allow theluminescent material to be energized by light passing through theportion and into the storage compartment.

As one feature, the storage compartment has an annular shape bounded bya pair of spaced sidewalls. According to further feature, at least aportion of at least one of the sidewalls is transparent. In yet afurther feature, portions of both of the sidewalls are transparent.

In one feature, the case includes a pair of components that are joinedto each other to define the storage compartment, and at least one of thepair of components includes a transparent material.

It should be understood that the inventive concepts disclosed herein donot require each of the features discussed above, may include anycombination of the features discussed, and may include features notspecifically discussed above.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view is a perspective view from above and to the left of afish tape system according to this disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a fish tape of the fish tape system shown inFIG. 1, with the fish tape removed from a case of the system and with aportion of the fish tape broken away for purposes of illustration;

FIG. 3 is a left side elevation view of the fish tape system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a right side elevation view of the fish tape system of FIGS. 1and 3;

FIG. 5, is a view taken from line 5-5 in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are enlarged views taken from line 6-6 in FIG. 2 andshow alternate embodiments of the fish tape shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view showing an end configuration fora fish tape according to this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As seen in FIGS. 1-5, a fish tape system 10 is provided and includes afish tape 12 and a case 14. As best seen in FIG. 2, the fish tape 12 hasa length 16 extending from a first end 18 to a second end 20. The length16 includes a luminescent material 22 that emits light after beingenergized by exposure to a light source 24, such as the sun or a lightemitting element. The case 14 has a fish tape storage compartment 26that stores the fish tape 12 for deployment via an opening 28 in thecase 14. At least a portion of the case 14 is transparent to allow theluminescent material 22 to be energized by light passing through thetransparent portion and into the storage compartment 26.

In the illustrated embodiment, the case 14 is donut shaped and includesa pair of sidewalls 32 (best seen in FIG. 5) extending between aradially innermost wall 34 and a radially outermost wall 36. The wall 36includes the opening 28 in the form of an annular opening 28 extendingaround the entire circumference of the wall 36. The sidewalls 32 arespaced from each other, and in combination with inwardly facing annularsurfaces 38 and 40 of the walls 34 and 36, respectively, define thestorage compartment 26 with an annular shape. As best seen in FIGS. 1and 5, the illustrated and preferred case 14 is an assembly of two,half-case components 44 and 46 that are joined to each other usingthreaded fasteners 48. Each of the components 44 and 46 define one ofthe sidewalls 32 and approximately one-half of each of the walls 34 and36 and are preferably molded using a suitable process, such as injectionmolding. The annular opening 28 is defined between each portion of thewall 36 defined by each of the components 44 and 46. Such constructionsfor donut shaped fish tape cases are well known, with a few examples ofsuch commercially cases being offered by Ideal Electronics under modelnumbers 31-542, 31-056, and 31-064; by Gardner Bender under modelnumbers FTS-125R, FTS-250R, and FTS-50B; and Klein Tools under modelnumbers 56001, 56014, 56002, and 56005.

In the illustrated and highly preferred embodiment, the walls 32, 34 and36 are all transparent to allow the luminescent material 22 to beenergized by light passing into the compartment 26 through the wall 32,34, and 36. In this regard, the components 44 and 46 can be molded fromany suitable material, such a suitable polymeric/plastic/compositematerial. Non-limiting examples of suitable materials include:polycarbonate, polypropylene, and Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

The illustrated and preferred embodiment of the system 10 also includesa winding handle 50 that is mounted to slide within the annular opening28 around the entire circumference of the wall 36. The handle 50includes a grip 52 and a hoop or ring 54. As best seen in FIG. 5, thering 54 has oppositely facing annular ribs 56, with each rib received ina corresponding annular channel in a corresponding one of the half-casecomponents 44 and 46 for guided, sliding movement around the entirecircumference of the wall 36. As best seen in FIG. 3, the grip 52includes a tape guide portion 58 having a linear slot 60 that receivesand guides the fish tape 12 has it is deployed from and wound into thecompartment 26 via an opening 62 that extends through the ring 54. Thefeatures 52, 54, 56, 58, 60 and 62 are well known and employed incommercially available fish tape systems.

It is highly preferred that system 10 be configured to allow the fishtape 12 to be easily removed from the case 14 for use and then rewoundinto the case 14 after use. In the illustrated and novel embodiment,this is achieved by sizing the slot 60 and opening 62 to allow the end20 to be readily removed from the case 14 and reinserted into the case14, by providing an opening 64 in the wall 34 that allows the end 20 toreadily pass through the wall 34, and by providing the case 14 with ananchor slot 66 that provide a snap-fit with the end 20 to allow the end20 to be releasably retained in the slot 66. In the illustratedembodiment, the slot 66 is defined in a boss 68 that is formed as anintegral, unitary part of the half-case component 46.

The length 16 of the fish tape 12 is formed from a structural member 70that extends over the entire length 16. The structural member 70 can bea flexible strip of metal, a multi-strand metallic wire, or a cord orrope of nylon, fiberglass, or other flexible, high tensile strengthmaterial. The luminescent material 22 can be provided in any suitableform and preferably extends over the entire length 16, such as, forexample, in the form of a luminescent coating that includes the material20, such as a paint, on the structural member 70 that extends over theentire length 16 (shown in FIG. 2); a luminescent sheath/jacket thatincludes the material 20 and surrounds the structural member 70extending over the entire length 16 (shown in FIG. 6A); or in the formas an integral component of the material that forms the structuralmember 70 (shown in FIG. 6B). Non-limiting examples of suitablematerials for the luminescent material 22 include: strontium aluminate,zinc sulfide, or either of those materials blended with a base material,such as nylon, polyethylene, and/or polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Each end 18 and 20 of the fish tape 12 may be provided in any suitableform and/or configuration, many of which are known, to allow or assist auser in the attachment of an electrical wire or optic cable or in thegrasping of the fish tape 12 during a pulling or pushing operation.Non-limiting examples of suitable forms/configurations for the ends 18and 20 include eyelet ends (shown in FIGS. 1-4 for end 18), hook shapedends, no-snag plastic tips, bullet ends, mini-eyelet ends, domed-eyeletends, claw ends, male threaded connector ends, or female threadedconnector ends, all of which are well known in commercially availablefish tape systems and fish rod systems. FIGS. 1-4 and 7 shows anembodiment wherein the 20 has a threaded connector in the form of afemale threaded opening 74.

Preferred embodiments of the inventive concepts are described herein,including the best mode known to the inventor(s) for carrying out theinventive concepts. Variations of those preferred embodiments willbecome apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading theforegoing description. The inventor(s) expect skilled artisans to employsuch variations as appropriate, and the inventor(s) intend that theinventive concepts can be practiced otherwise than as specificallydescribed herein. Accordingly, the inventive concepts disclosed hereininclude all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recitedin the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover,any combination of the above-described elements and features in allpossible variations thereof is encompassed by the inventive conceptsunless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted bycontext. Further in this regard, while highly preferred forms of thefish tape system 10 are shown in the figures, it should be understoodthat this disclosure anticipates variations in the specific details ofeach of the disclosed components and features of the fish tape system 10and that no limitation to a specific form, configuration, or detail isintended unless expressly and specifically recited in an appended claim.

For example, while specific and preferred forms have been shown for thecase 14, in some applications other forms and configurations for thecase 14 may be employed. For example, in some applications it may bedesirable for just one of the side walls 32 to be transparent, with theother side wall 32 and the other walls 34 and 36 being opaque. Asanother example, it may be desirable for just a portion of one of thewalls 32, 34, and/or 36 to be transparent. As yet another example, whileit is preferred for the annular opening 28 to be provided in theradially outermost wall, in some applications it may be desirable forthe annular opening 28 to be provide in the radially innermost wall 34.As another example, while an annular opening 28 is preferred, in someapplications a different opening configuration/shape may be desired. Inanother example, while the two half-case components 44 and 46 preferred,in some embodiments it may be desirable to form the case 14 from adifferent configuration of components or a different number ofcomponents. Similarly, while the donut shape is a preferred form for thecase 14, in some applications it may be desirable for the case 14 tohave a different shape. As yet another example, while the disclosedconfiguration for the handle 50 is preferred, in some applications itmay be desirable to utilize other configurations, many of which areknown, for a winding handle. Similarly, in some applications it may bedesirable for the system 10 to not have any type or configuration ofwinding handle. In a further example, while the opening 64, anchor slot64 and boss 66 are preferred, in some application it may be desirablefor these features to be eliminated and/or for replaced with otherfeatures to attach or anchor the end 20 in the case 14. In anotherexample, while circular and rectangular cross sections have been shownfor the fish tape 12, other cross sections may be desirable dependingupon the specific application and/or material(s) used for the fish tape12.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and “at least one” andsimilar referents in the context of describing the invention (especiallyin the context of the following claims) are to be construed to coverboth the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein orclearly contradicted by context. The use of the term “at least one”followed by a list of one or more items (for example, “at least one of Aand B”) is to be construed to mean one item selected from the listeditems (A or B) or any combination of two or more of the listed items (Aand B), unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing”are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, butnot limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The use of any and allexamples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, isintended merely to better illuminate the inventive concepts disclosedherein and does not pose a limitation on the scope of any inventionunless expressly claimed. No language in the specification should beconstrued as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to thepractice of the inventive concepts disclosed herein.

All references, including publications, patent applications, andpatents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the sameextent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicatedto be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entiretyherein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fish tape system comprising: a fish tape havinga length extending from a first end to a second end, the length of thefish tape comprising a luminescent material that emits light after beingenergized by exposure to a light source; and a donut shaped case havinga pair of sidewalls extending between a radially innermost wall and aradially outermost wall, the outermost wall having an annular openingextending around a circumference of the outer wall, the sidewalls beingspaced from each other to define a fish tape storage compartment thatstores the length of fish tape for deployment via the annular opening inthe case; wherein at least one of the sidewalls of the case istransparent to allow the luminescent material to be energized by lightpassing through the at least one of the sidewalls.
 2. The fish tapesystem of claim 1 wherein both of the sidewalls of the case aretransparent to allow the luminescent material to be energized by lightpassing through the sidewalls.
 3. The fish tape system of claim 2wherein at least one of the innermost and outermost walls is transparentto allow the luminescent material to be energized by light passingthrough the sidewalls.
 4. The fish tape system of claim 1 wherein one ofthe sidewalls and portions of the innermost and outermost walls aredefined by a first component of the case, and the other of the sidewallsand other portions of the innermost and outermost walls are defined by asecond component of the case, the first and second components beingassembled together to form the storage compartment.
 5. The fish tapesystem of claim 1 further comprising a handle engaged with the case forsliding movement along the circumference of the outer wall, the handleengageable with the fish tape to deploy the fish tape from the storagecompartment and to reload the fish tape into the compartment.
 6. Thefish tape system of claim 1 wherein the fish tape further comprises athreaded opening in at least one of the first and second ends.
 7. A fishtape system comprising: a fish tape having a length extending from afirst end to a second end, the length of the fish tape comprising aluminescent material that emits light after being energized by exposureto a light source; and a donut shaped case having a pair of sidewallsextending between a radially innermost wall and a radially outermostwall, an annular opening extending around a circumference of one of theinner and outer walls, the sidewalls being spaced from each other todefine a fish tape storage compartment that stores the length of fishtape for deployment via the annular opening in the case; wherein atleast a portion of the case is transparent to allow the luminescentmaterial to be energized by light passing through the portion.
 8. Thefish tape system of claim 7 wherein at least a portion of at least oneof the sidewalls of the case is transparent to allow the luminescentmaterial to be energized by light passing through the at least one ofthe sidewalls.
 9. The fish tape system of claim 7 wherein at leastportions of both of the sidewalls of the case are transparent to allowthe luminescent material to be energized by light passing through thesidewalls.
 10. The fish tape system of claim 7 wherein at least portionsof all the walls of the case are transparent.
 11. The fish tape systemof claim 7 wherein one of the sidewalls and portions of the innermostand outermost walls are defined by a first component of the case, andthe other of the sidewalls and other portions of the innermost andoutermost walls are defined by a second component of the case, the firstand second components being assembled together to form the storagecompartment.
 12. The fish tape system of claim 11 wherein at least oneof the first and second components comprises a transparent material. 13.The fish tape system of claim 11 wherein both of the first and secondcomponents comprises a transparent material.
 14. The fish tape system ofclaim 7 further comprising a handle engaged with the case for slidingmovement along a circumference of one of the inner and outer walls, thehandle engageable with the fish tape to deploy the fish tape from thestorage compartment and to reload the fish tape into the compartment.15. The fish tape system of claim 7 wherein the fish tape furthercomprises a threaded opening in at least one of the first and secondends.
 16. A fish tape system comprising: a fish tape having a lengthextending from a first end to a second end, the length of the fish tapecomprising a luminescent material that emits light after being energizedby exposure to a light source; and a case having a fish tape storagecompartment that stores the length of fish tape for deployment andreloading via an opening in the case; wherein at least a portion of thecase is transparent to allow the luminescent material to be energized bylight passing through the portion and into the storage compartment. 17.The fish tape system of claim 16 wherein the storage compartment has anannular shape bounded by a pair of spaced sidewalls.
 18. The fish tapesystem of claim 17 wherein at least a portion of at least one of thesidewalls is transparent.
 19. The fish tape system of claim 18 whereinportions of both of the sidewalls are transparent.
 20. The fish tapesystem of claim 16 wherein the case comprises a pair of components thatare joined to each other to define the storage compartment, and at leastone of the pair of components comprises a transparent material.